Pokemon: Bounty Hunter Alex

The tension among Alex’s Pokémon reached its peak as less and less of the dense cube remained for Guzzlord to consume. Their muscles coiled tighter, and their energies revolved around their bodies at ever-increasing speeds, ready to unleash everything they had at the first word of Gardevoir’s command. Gardevoir herself was the most alert of them all, remaining on high guard until the last of the cube disappeared into Guzzlord’s maw.

"Stand down," Alex commanded just as Guzzlord’s coiled muscles propelled it toward him.

Guzzlord landed directly on top of Alex and swallowed him whole. Fortunately, he wasn’t sent into its stomach. Instead, he remained inside its mouth, where the ravenous Ultra Beast literally chewed on him like gum while figuratively chewing him out.

"Guzz-Guzzlord!"

"You fell asleep because you ate too much, but you wanted me to feed you even more energy?"

"Guzzlord!"

"Your mouth was still full! Swallow your food before asking for more!"

"Guzzlord~"

"I know I promised, but you hadn’t even digested what was already in your stomach."

"Guzzlord!"

"What do you mean it would’ve tasted better? You were asleep!"

As Alex and Guzzlord continued their back-and-forth negotiation, Gardevoir and the rest of the Pokémon let out collective sighs of relief. Guzzlord, one of the few special Pokémon under Alex’s command alongside Mantine and the Crobat couple, was finally under control again. With the crisis over, they relaxed and sprawled around the training ground, savoring the chance to take a well-earned break.

"Alright, alright. I’ll give you more energy now that you’ve reached the Master rank. Happy?"

"Guzz," it said with a satisfied nod before spitting Alex out, clearly pleased with the results of their negotiation.

Now that the immediate danger had passed and Guzzlord had managed to regain its sanity, Alex was able to assess the bond between them with a clearer mind. He delved deep into his consciousness and reached out toward Guzzlord’s energy. It was like a raging river, constantly battering against its banks and threatening to overflow and flood everything around it.

Undoubtedly, Guzzlord’s energy was far more powerful now that it had reached the Master rank. However, it remained firmly under Alex’s control. With over 50 Champion ranked Pokémon and their exceptionally strong bonds supporting him, he had no trouble keeping this turbulent current from overwhelming his own mind.

Analyzing how Guzzlord had achieved its breakthrough, Alex concluded that it was because of its overwhelming desire to consume. Its insatiable gluttony had pushed its willpower beyond the Champion rank barrier, allowing it to master its own digestion and accelerate its growth. After repeatedly forcing itself to consume multiple Master-ranked energy beams containing the combined power of thousands of Pokémon, Guzzlord had broken through its limits and reached the Master rank.

As for the familiarity between them, it had undoubtedly improved compared to when they first bonded. However, it still paled in comparison to the unquestionable trust and connection he shared with his other Pokémon. Even Seismitoad, Breloom, and Raichu, who were among the last Pokémon to join Alex’s roster, possessed stronger bonds with him, forged through respect and recognition.

Guzzlord’s bond, however, had merely evolved from seeing Alex as a snack to viewing him as a reliable food dispenser. It trusted that Alex was more than just dessert and would continue providing it with a steady source of nourishment. For Guzzlord, that was the extent of the bond it was willing to offer.

Because of this, the Master rank energy Alex received from Guzzlord was far more unstable and wild compared to that of his other Pokémon. Still, it was undeniable proof that he had reached the Master rank. In fact, he had already held the rank for over 3 months, apparently since the moment Guzzlord ranked up and began devouring the energy stored within its body at an even faster rate.

Alex realized that the reason he hadn’t noticed the change was because of the 2 years he had spent recovering, recuperating, and adapting to his newly optimized strength. The improvements he felt from reaching the Master rank were similar to the gradual adjustments his body had undergone during recovery, making it difficult to distinguish between the two.

"Congratulations on successfully quelling your Pokémon and reaching the Master rank," the employee who had delivered the cube said.

"Thanks. Oh, right, how much do I owe you?" Alex asked.

"Close to one billion credits, I think," he replied with a thoughtful look.

"A billion credits!?" Alex exclaimed.

That was enough to build four to five Silver Network bases or was equivalent to the reward for taking down a dozen high-profile Master ranked criminals. It was an enormous amount of money that Alex simply didn’t have, and neither did the Silver Network, which was only just beginning to recover financially.

"It’s a Master rank resource known as the densest metal in the world," he replied with a shrug. "It’s typically used in hyper-thin sheets to reinforce weaker materials and greatly improve their resistance to damage. The amount your Pokémon consumed was enough to rebuild half of the Training Center."

"I don’t suppose you have a payment plan?" Alex asked, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Of course, sir. We completely understand that this was an emergency on your part, and we are even willing to waive the damage your Pokémon caused to the training room."

Alex glanced around at the floor, which had been torn apart by Guzzlord’s hunger, as well as the damage to the wall where it had been embedded after being hit by the cube. It was minor, so it likely wouldn’t have been too expensive to repair in the first place.

"As for the specifics, I’m sure someone will come by to provide you with the details. Again, congratulations, sir," the employee said one last time before leaving with the space bag.

His job had only been to account for the metal, after all, ensuring that any leftover material was returned since it was needed to repair the building rather than being sold.

Alex let out a heavy sigh. It seemed he would have to figure out how to deal with the debt he had suddenly acquired. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the only problem he had gained from this incident.

Placing his hand on Guzzlord’s side, Alex assessed its condition and found that it was only about 20% full. Based on its newly accelerated rate of digestion, it would take a few years for Guzzlord to naturally consume the remaining material. That meant Alex would need to embark on another expedition soon to find more resources to feed it.

Still, it wasn’t a bad trade. Being buried under heavy debt and constantly having to worry about Guzzlord’s stomach were acceptable prices to pay if it meant he had finally reached the Master rank.

However, Alex had to admit that he felt bitter. Just like when he reached the Champion rank through Grim, he didn’t feel like he had personally crossed the threshold. The achievement didn’t feel earned when all he had done was gain a powerful Pokémon by chance. As far as he was concerned, he was a fake Master ranked trainer.

He would only feel worthy of the title once he managed to train his own Pokémon to that level. Unless Grim or Knight spontaneously reached the rank on their own, it would still take decades for his regular Pokémon to achieve such a feat, with Raticate, possessing both the physique and mentality needed, being at the very front of that list.

Having finished assessing his situation, Alex cleared his mind and rested with his Pokémon until someone entered the training room. It was a woman wearing glasses and a uniform with the same design as those worn by League employees. Her posture was composed, and her professional demeanor made it clear she was there for official business.

"Hello, Mr. Wattson. I apologize for interrupting your rest, but we have a lot to discuss," she said, holding a tablet against her chest.

"Is this about the debt?" Alex asked without moving.

"That is part of it, but more importantly, it concerns your recent advancement to the Master rank. There is a far more extensive process involved compared to reaching the lower ranks, where you would typically only receive an information packet and a contract."

"I see. Alright, lay it out for me."

"Firstly, the Pokémon League has decided to assume responsibility for your debt through an interest-free loan. This decision was made in recognition of the significant contributions you have provided to the League even before reaching your current rank."

She tapped on her tablet before continuing.

"Secondly, you will be required to attend a briefing regarding the current state of the world and the League as a whole. Thirdly, you will be assigned certain responsibilities now that you have reached this level of power, along with restrictions regarding your actions."

Her expression turned more serious.

"As you have recently discovered, Master ranked Pokémon possess an extraordinary level of power. Your every action has the potential to create consequences on a scale that could result in numerous casualties. Because of this, restraint is of the utmost importance. If you are willing, I have already prepared a schedule for you."

She transferred an information packet from her tablet to Alex’s phone.

Alex took out his phone, read through the details, and gave a small nod.

"Very well. Let’s just get this over with," he said as he stood up, ready to learn secrets he already knew about from Clarissa.